Inspired By: Randi Zuckerberg
“I’ve always believed in bringing my authentic self to work, and that often meant being unafraid to speak my mind and not apologize for who I am.”
Randi Zuckerberg served as the marketing director for Facebook for six years, where she struck groundbreaking deals with ABC (for the first online-offline presidential debates) and CNN (to cover Barack Obama’s inauguration). She was ranked among one of the “50 Digital Power Players” by the Hollywood Reporter. She is currently the CEO and founder of Zuckerberg Media, a media and production company of the future, and editor-in-chief of Dot Complicated, a modern lifestyle weekly newsletter and blog.
Q: Please share how your professional career began and how you ended up where you are today?
A: I was Marketing Director at Facebook for 6 years and always enjoyed being on the forefront of tech and social media. My time at Facebook was an amazing learning experience and a time I will always treasure. I was able to be involved in a lot of Facebook’s marketing initiatives, including a livestreamed “Town Hall” with President Barack Obama. Creating and delivering content in groundbreaking ways has always been a passion of mine, so starting my own media company seemed like the natural next step.
I started Zuckerberg Media about a year ago. Zuckerberg Media is a next-generation media company based in Silicon Valley. We create video and web content for what I like to call the “wired woman” around untangling our lives in this digital age. I just launched an online community, Dot Complicated, that focuses on these issues.
Q: Who is a leader that you have great respect for and why?
A: Gosh, it’s so hard to just name just one – I’m inspired by so many amazing leaders every day. There are so many female executives I admire, but I also have such admiration for all the women who aren’t in the spotlight, who are doing their best day-after-day to balance their families, their careers, and their own dreams and passions.
Q: As a leader in your company, what is the best piece of advice you would offer to a new employee to help them succeed?
A: Even if you’re brand new, don’t be afraid to take initiative and share your perspective. I love when my colleagues come up with new ideas on their own, and I really value the suggestions and different viewpoints they bring to the table.
Q: What would you say has been your driving force in your staying power in a male-dominated industry?
A: I’ve always believed in bringing my authentic self to work, and that often meant being unafraid to speak my mind and not apologize for who I am. I’ve been blessed to meet so many supportive colleagues and partners along the way – both men and women – and we help each other reach our goals.
Q: As a seasoned professional, how do you share your experience with your team on a daily basis?
A: My team at Zuckerberg Media is pretty small, so I get to work directly with all of my colleagues on a variety of projects daily. I feel like the sharing of experience definitely goes both ways – each of my colleagues have helped me learn and grow tremendously, and we have a lot of fun along the way.
Q: What is the one thing you make time for in your daily life that helps keeps you refreshed and positive?
A: Spending time with my husband and son always leaves me feeling re-energized and refocused. Since launching the Dot Complicated newsletter and site, I’ve also been much more conscious about the importance of unplugging from technology when I’m spending quality time with my family and friends. And, of course, Diet Coke 😉